Thursday, July 19, 2012

Music: A distraction? Or Does It Add To The Experience?

I love music. I play the piano, I sing, I even compose when I'm really in the zone.

Music is such a huge part of my life and I always have it playing in the house, which is why I find it so bizarre that when it comes to writing I NEED silence. I can't write with music on - whether it's instrumental or singers, I just find it way too distracting. The same goes with reading. I can't focus on a book when there is music on in the background.

In saying that, when it comes to imagining a scene, music is a huge enhancement. It can evoke emotions in me and add real spice and feeling to a scene. I especially love listening to movie soundtrack music when I'm dreaming or just really romantic songs with a ton of emotion in them - Taylor Swift is a favourite :)

So - what do you think?
Does music distract you from reading or writing?
Or does music make the whole reading experience a million times better?
What kind of music stirs emotions in you?

MP


4 comments:

  1. I write to music. I have the most massive music collection, and many many different playlists just for writing to. Each new book I write gets a fresh new playlist that I create while writing the book. Some tracks are character specific... some are plot specific... some are just to amp me up into the mood.

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    1. Different playlists for different stories. I like that idea. Very cool :)

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  2. I totally write to music. I find it's a good buffer between the world and my story. No one can distract me when I have earbuds in my ears (I used to write in the staffroom at work) and the music helps me get in a writing mood. :-)

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    1. I don't know how you used to write with all those distractions in the staffroom. You're amazing :)

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